There Should Be No Distinction Regarding Life

The legal challenge being presented to the state Supreme Court on behalf of Cassandra, the teen seeking the legal right to refuse treatment for cancer under the mature minor doctrine, poses a sobering thought [Jan. 6, Page 1, "Lawyer: Teen's Prognosis Good, But Only If Her Treatments Continue"].

Those states that currently have a form of this law generally permit minors to seek medical treatment without parents' permission or knowledge -- such as an abortion. If the state Supreme Court denies Cassandra's request to refuse medical treatment, that arguably makes their decision one of constitutuional schizophrenia -- which is to say, underage girls can legally consent to seek medical treatment to end new life growing within their bodies, but they cannot refuse medical treatment that may end the life of their own bodies.

It's irrational to believe that a state or individual can be pro-life and pro-choice at the same time. We either believe life is worthy of defense or worthy of destruction. It cannot be both.